May the Force (and some Animal-Assisted therapy) be with you!
Meet Yoda: Our certified animal-assisted therapy dog. Yoda joined the practice in 2020 (yes, she was a pandemic adoption pup) and has been working hard for her treats in her work with in-house psychologist, Dr. Silva. So, what is animal-assisted therapy and what are some potential benefits?
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a type of psychotherapy that includes animals in treatment to achieve therapeutic goals. It can also be utilized as a complementary treatment modality to supplement other traditional types of therapies. The evidence has shown that it can be helpful for treating a wide range of psychological conditions, ranging from anxiety and depression to neurodevelopmental and substance use disorders, to serious, persistent, and chronic mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia.
Components of animal-assisted therapy often include an introduction to the therapy animal, engaging in activities or other interactions, such as playing or walk-and-talk therapy, verbal and nonverbal communication, observation of behaviors and reactions during therapeutic interactions to gain insight into social dynamics, emotional support, goal setting, and generalization of skill sets learned with the assistance of the therapy animal into the “real world.”
Benefits of animal assisted therapy may include:
Improved mood
Decreased anxiety and stress
Lower blood pressure
Release of oxytocin, or the “love hormone,” which is associated with bonding
Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, or “rest and digest” (relaxation)
Enhancement of communication and interpersonal/social skills
Opportunity to experience unconditional love, positive regard, and a non-judgmental space/being
Sense of companionship/connectedness and alleviation of loneliness
Improved emotion regulation in response to trauma due to having exposure to a calming presence
Increased motivation to participate fully in treatment
In the cases of phobias (e.g., fears of animals, contamination OCD), the opportunity to conquer fears through exposure-and-response prevention (ERP)
Enhanced quality of life and happiness
If you are considering whether you may benefit from animal-assisted therapy, schedule a consultation with us at 404-351-2008.
